Homologous Use of Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Tissue to Reduce Knee Pain and Improve Knee Function

Abstract

To determine if knee pain subjects who received cryopreserved umbilical cord tissue (UCT) injected into knee joints experience less knee pain, better function, decreased physical limitations, and reduction of medications (opiates, NSAIDs, and acetaminophen) over a 24 week period, Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and medication usage data were recorded for 30 consenting human knee pain subjects receiving UCT at a single site in the United States. Subject profile information was gathered and analyzed to gain insight into the effects of age, sex, and BMI on improvement over time. Mean resting VAS scores and mean VAS scores with activity improved over 24 weeks (from 1.95 to 0.83 and from 6.28 to 2.87, respectively, p < 0.001). There was no strong evidence of a correlation between sex and VAS scores. There were statistically significant correlations for BMI vs. pre-injection VAS with activity scores and Age vs. pre-injection VAS with activity scores (r = 0.402, p = 0.028 and r = 0.434, p = 0.017, respectively). Mean WOMAC scores improved from 44.7 to 18.5 over 24 weeks (p < 0.001). 77.8% of patients who used medications at the beginning of the study reduced or eliminated medication use. The analysis demonstrates that injections with UCT decrease pain, improve physical function, and allow for less medication use for at least 24 weeks.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Cryopreserved Human Umbilical Cord Tissue Allograft for the Supplementation of Cartilage Defects Associated to Knee Osteoarthritis: An Observational Data Collection Study

“…The structural and functional similarities between WJ and articular cartilage, combined with significant improvement of NPRS and WOMAC indicate that umbilical cord tissue allografts are an effective supplementation for osteoarthritis cartilage degeneration. These results are consistent with a study in 2022 that found that 30 patients who received umbilical cord tissue (UCT) applications in the knee had decreased pain, decreased medication use (opiates and NSAIDs), and an improvement in physical function lasting over 24 weeks [19].…”

“…WJ is primarily comprised of collagen and glycosaminoglycans, mirroring articular cartilage composition [19]. WJ is similar to articular cartilage in scaffold architecture and bio function, making WJ an ideal homologous allograft to supplement articular cartilage defects in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis.…”

Wharton’s Jelly Tissue Allograft for Connective Tissue Defects Surrounding Nerves in the Tarsal Tunnel: A Retrospective Case Series

“…The positive results presented in this retrospective case series align with the current literature on human tissue defects associated with knee pain and articular cartilage defects affiliated with the sacroiliac joint [15,16]. Patient-reported pain, joint stiffness, and physical function had a significant improvement in the knee study by Timmons.…”

Knee Osteoarthritis—How Close Are We to Disease-Modifying Treatment: Emphasis on Metabolic Type Knee Osteoarthritis

“…For many patients, the improvement continued up to 24 months after a single injection. These observations require confirmation in future double-blinded, randomized studies [ 31 ].…”